It might be over 6,000 miles from where he was born in Cape Town, but Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport team driver Andrew Rackstraw has a warm ‘home’ feeling about Donington Park – which is where he heads to next for Rounds 11 and 12 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB (30-31 August).
Not only is the famous Derbyshire track a mere one-hour journey from where the 23-year old South African driver is now based, but it’s where he drove a Porsche Carrera 911 GT3 for the first time. Add that Andrew has always performed well and scored good results there, and it’s easy to see why he considers it a very special circuit.
The race weekend brings to a close what will have been an intensive all-action August, containing six Porsche Carrera Cup GB rounds held over three high-speed race weekends in just 29 days.
Andrew will be aiming to complete a superb summer of success in his Rosland Gold/Investchem/Sparco-backed Porsche, in which he has consistently been one of the fastest drivers. Indeed, he led the Pro category for most of the year – and would still be leading now, had he not been hit from behind and spun out at the last race at Knockhill.
But the talented Capetonian left that disappointed at the Scottish border and returns to England with renewed confidence – not least because he and the team feel that they have found something that could unlock even more performance in their 911 GT3.
And that could be crucial, as the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit is, at 2.49-miles, the second longest track on the Porsche Carrera Cup GB calendar. And with the fearless Craner Curves, key overtaking corners such as Redgate and McLeans and the technical Fogarty Esses and Melbourne Hairpin, the 12-corner track layout is definitely one you need a good car set-up for and be on top of your game as a driver.
“I’m super excited about Donington, because it’s a track that I’ve always been quite strong at and the racing is normally very good,” says Andrew.
“It almost feels like my home race, because the track is only an hour’s drive away from where I’m based here in the UK – although saying that I’ve got home advantage might be pushing it a bit far!
“Donington certainly has special memories for me. It’s where I tested the Porsche Carrera Cup car for the first time and since then I’ve always had a special feeling when I go back and race there.
“Even though I’m second in the Pro drivers’ standings, I feel extremely positive heading into the next race weekend.
“Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport and I have developed so much together throughout this season that it’s enabled me to grow in confidence with the car. I think we’ve found something to unlock a little more performance as well, so I’m looking forward to the test day at Donington and then maximising it all on the qualifying and race days.
“With six rounds remaining, it’s beginning to get close to the end of the season. That said, we’re sticking to the same game plan that we’ve had since the start – and that’s to prepare well, maximise as much as we can, score as many points as we can and stay out of trouble. That’s always been our goal and nothing’s changed.
“My determination just keeps growing and growing, and I’m going to give it everything at Donington – not just for myself, but for the team and for everyone who supports me. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
Published by: Paul Evans
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